Celebrating Chanukah with Today's Maccabees
Uri Avnery reports on the Chanukah action shown in this post at the Gush Shalom website:
The soldiers and settlers who looked on from a distance did not believe their eyes: some seventy Israeli peace activists, members of Gush Shalom and sympathizers together with Palestinians among them a lot of children, lighted the candles of a huge Hanukkia at the Palestinian “outpost” put up by the villagers of Bil’in on their land, only a hundred yards from the houses of the Modi’in Illit settlement.The action took place on the eighth evening of Hanukka, the first day of 2006 – as an expression of solidarity with the Bil’in struggle as well as a message to Israelis.
“Perhaps it seems strange that we light the candles of a Jewish holiday at this place'” Uri Avnery said, “but we are standing here on the land of the Maccabees. It is here that they were born and here they started their revolt. The rebellion of the Maccabees is not only a Jewish symbol, long ago it has become a world-wide symbol of the struggle against oppression, occupation and injustice. The people of Bil’in are the Maccabees of these days, and the occupation is Antiochus.” (Antiochus Epiphanes was the Greek king of Syria, against whose tyrannical rule the Maccabees rebelled 2174 years ago.)
The Hannukia (candelabrum), more than two meters high, was constructed on the spot from irrigation pipes. Some days ago the villagers of Bil’in have set up an “outpost” on their land that lies between the “separation fence” and the settlement – a large area that has been effectively cut off from the village by the fence, in order to build there new neighborhoods of Modi’in Illit, which is already a huge settlement. The settlers, all Haredim (orthodox Jews), have been put there by real estate speculators, some of them Canadian companies, who have earned many millions by selling the stolen land. The Bil’in villagers have decided to call the place “Center of Joint Struggle”.
One of the young village leaders, Muhammad Hatib, described to the Israeli activists how the outpost – a brick structure – was set up in one single night, in order to thwart the efforts of the army to prevent it . Then eight of the activists lighted the “candles” – actually large torches – each one making a short statement:
“I light this torch for the fighters against occupation and oppression, in the spirit of the Maccabees, who were the sons of this soil!”
“I light this candle against injustice and discrimination, in the spirit of the best spiritual leaders of Judaism throughout the ages!”
“I light this candle for human dignity and human rights!”
“I light this candle against the settlers who take by force possession of the land that belongs to others, contrary to the Jewish values they profess to honor!”
“I light this candle in honor of the State of Israel within the Green Line, a state of liberty and justice!”
“I light this candle against the hooligans who cut down Palestinian trees and steal the olives, and who last year destroyed 5000 Palestinian homes, who besmirch the honor of Israel.”
“I light this candle for the love of human beings, wherever they are!”
“I light this candle for peace between the two peoples, sons of this country!”
There are photos by Rachel Avnery available here. More photos here and background on the events in Bil’in at Orthodox Anarchist.
Well, at least they didn’t deny the historical Jewish connection to the place.
It’s a shame, though, when one relates suicide bombers and those who send them to Jewish heroes and Jewish tradition just to make a political statement. I wonder if the Maccabees targeted families in restaurants.
and if someone were to produce evidence they did…?
T_M wrote: “It’s a shame, though, when one relates suicide bombers and those who send them to Jewish heroes and Jewish tradition just to make a political statement.”
I must have missed that part – where were suicide bombers mentioned at all? Or were you reading something different from what I read ?
“The people of Bil’in are the Maccabees of these days, and the occupation is Antiochus.”
Can’t wait for the upcoming Purim comparison. And the one on Yom HaShoah.
By the way, is Avnery referring to the traditional heroic Maccabees or the nasty ones portrayed here?
Oh wait, you mean that Avnery wasn’t referring to all Palestinians under occupation, just that those from Bil’in are the Maccabees?
Come on, John, let’s not play games.
Mobius, if such evidence came up – something I highly doubt – I might have to join Kelsey in dismissing channukah.
they’re getting more and more creative in Bil’in. More photos here: http://www.palsolidarity.org/m…
T_M wrote: “Oh wait, you mean that Avnery wasn’t referring to all Palestinians under occupation, just that those from Bil’in are the Maccabees? “
The way I read it, he was referring to “The people of Bil’in”, and drawing a parallel between them and everyone who participates in the “struggle against oppression, occupation and injustice”
I didn’t see any mention of, or support for suicide bombers however. I think that suggestion is an obvious crock of shit.
“I light this candle against the settlers who take by force possession of the land that belongs to others, contrary to the Jewish values they profess to honor!”
———————– ———————
The only difference between Israel and the west bank is the period in which it was conquered. DO these idiots not understand that in the mind of the arabs this artificial distinction means nothing!
To these Jews the only difference between “Israel” and the “occupied territories” is that they’re comfortable with the former while uncomfortable with the latter. Emotions, that’s what’s driving these fools, not ethics.
“I light this candle against the settlers who take by force possession of the land that belongs to others, contrary to the Jewish values they profess to honor!”
To that I might add:
… but massacres we perpetrated, Hebron, Gush Etziyon etc., as well as our continued support of terrorism, suicide bombings and attacks against civilian population centers, stupid actions that serve only to perpetuate the conflict, these things do not go against our values and are therefor ok.
I mean, it was a very cool media stunt, but don’t expect me to change my mind and be any more sympathetic to their cause. In that respect, these protesters haven’t advanced their cause at all.
So John, it’s a crock of shit for me to read the following,
“The rebellion of the Maccabees is not only a Jewish symbol, long ago it has become a world-wide symbol of the struggle against oppression, occupation and injustice. The people of Bil’in are the Maccabees of these days, and the occupation is Antiochus.”
to mean that the occupation by the Israelis is the equivalent of the forces against which the Maccabees fought, and that those who fight this occupation are like the Maccabees? I mean, are you actually saying that Avnery was simply referring to these people from the village who put up this little structure? That’s it. Just this little group of people? Against that big, big, huge, ugly, Antiochus of an occupation?
Wow, one of us is surely very naive or perhaps parsing the words a little too obliquely.
As I read it, he is talking about all forms of resistance to the occupation, which of course includes physical assaults and war. That’s what the Macabees did, they resisted aggressively and with force. If Israel is today’s Antiochus and Avnery is surrounded by today’s Maccabees, then he is espousing all facets of their struggle, whether it be political, diplomatic, military or through terror. Any means of fighting Antiochus represents the Maccabees according to Avnery.
Face, it, this was a “big picture” kind of moment, not some small event. And yes, sadly and tragically for both Israel and the Palestinians, suicide bombings are a significant tool in the war against Israel. I hope for the sake of the memory of the Maccabees that Avnery is wrong and they did not target civilians in mass murder activities.